Student Involvement

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Academic Departments

There are many ways Classics students can enhance their experience within the department, with opportunities in writing, performing, traveling and participating in academic clubs and societies.

Psyche’s Song

Written and performed by Emmie Lo (’22), Psyche’s Song was inspired by Psyche’s (“Soul’s”) speech to her parents in Apuleius’ The Golden Ass (4.34), read with Prof. Keyne Cheshire in an advanced Latin course on the novel.

In the novel, after an oracle has commanded that Psyche be married to a fearsome monster, she rebukes her parents for their hesitation and urges them to get on with the funereal wedding. Spoiler alert! The monster will prove to be Cupido (“Desire”). After all, what is a soul without desire?

Classics student Emmie Lo's response to Apuleius’s Golden Ass.

Lyrics to “Psyche’s Song” by Emmie Lo

  • Mother, don’t torture your 

    waning years with wasted tears.

    Father, don’t tear your hair, 

    white from all your sighing.

    Mother, don’t beat your breast,

    sacred breast that gave me rest.

    Father, don’t disfigure your 

    face with all your crying 
  • You should’ve mourned me long before,

    when for my beauty to adore

    strangers came from every land

    and crowned me as their Venus.

    Envy was our only prize,

    burning in the goddess’ eyes.

    Now in her name I go to die,

    if only we had seen it.
  •  
  • Mother, don’t weary your

    precious breath that is my breath

    Father, don’t waste it on

    all this ceaseless wailing.

    Mother, don’t tear your eyes;

    hurting them, you’re hurting mine.

    Father, come, lead me on

    to my fatal wedding.
  • Why delay a minute more

    and shed more tears behind this door?

    I’ve a lonely rock to climb

    to meet my noble husband.

    So, sing with me a wedding song

    For I will be, before too long,

    In the arms of one who’s born

    To bring the world destruction

    To bring the world destruction.

Eta Sigma Phi National Honor Society

Since 1929, Davidson College has hosted the Alpha Nu chapter of Eta Sigma Phi, the national honorary society for students of Latin and/or Greek. Any student who earns a B or higher in a Greek or Latin course is eligible for initiation.